Adventurer's Guild Receptionist

The room fell silent after Yukiko let the healing light fade. I could still feel the heat of magic in my veins and the bittersweet sensation of being back in my body. I took a deep breath and looked at the group. It was time to decide what to do next.

Margarida, who until recently had been screaming and spewing rage at me, now sat with trembling hands. She couldn't process her own father's betrayal.

"He… he was going to kill me in public?" Margarida whispered in disbelief.

The twelve-year-old girl, the girl I couldn't tell if she was just a servant or something more, slowly approached and placed her hand on Margarida's shoulder, with a look of unexpected comfort. The princess let out a sigh, and for a second I saw the girl as more than just a ruse; I saw humanity.

Ryn broke the silence. His voice was firm, as it always is when he proposes something big.

"This changes the picture. Albert is dead, but the void that remains is dangerous. We have an opportunity and a choice. I suggest we focus on breaking the seal that binds the demon king. If the seal falls completely, we can face him once and for all and put an end to this story," he said . Ryn firmly.

The idea hit me like a stone. I felt the weight and the possibility at the same time.

—That's an interesting suggestion, — I replied.

"If we get the seal, defeating the demon king can clear a lot of dirt at once," I said.

Kalea and Ayano nodded immediately, their practical sense not accepting half measures. Yukiko , still pale from the previous day's humiliation, raised her head with an unexpected condition:

—I agree… but only if we pass through Bergavil on the way . I need to see my teacher. — he said Yukiko .

I asked which teacher.

— Clementine . — he replied Yukiko .

Curious, Margarida wanted to know Clementine 's last name . Yukiko gave a sad half-smile.

—It's a mystery to almost everyone. Some secrets surf for generations. — he said Yukiko .

I was silent for a second, and then a name came to mind like a cold blade. Ryn noticed my gaze.

— What are you thinking about? — he asked. Ryn .

I took a deep breath and spoke shortly and directly.

"I remembered I still have another score to settle. There's one more person I need to settle... Frederica ," I replied.

The atmosphere grew a little more intense with that name. No one asked for details right away; everyone knew there were more people I hated. I kept a straight face; it was a list that was close to being finalized; I just needed to settle the score with Frederica .

Ryn was the first to break the silence.

— Araya … who is this Frederica ? — he asked Ryn .

I was preparing to respond, but before I could open my mouth, Margarida stepped forward with an acidic tone.

" Frederica is the receptionist at the Argarill Adventurers' Guild . She helped me with the plan to overthrow you and turn you into a slave," Margarida replied .

My eyes widened for a moment. Ryn looked confused too.

"How… how could a simple guild receptionist help with such a plan?" Ryn asked.

I couldn't contain the mischievous smile that appeared on my face.

"It's simple. That bitch lied about my Skill Copy ability. She said I could only steal up to four skills... and that on the fifth, I'd lose control of my body." I said, narrowing my eyes, remembering every detail.

"But during the mission against the wild boars, I realized that wasn't true. She deceived everyone, and that's how she became useful to Margarida." " Keep talking."

“I see.” Ryn crossed her arms, nodding slowly.

—So she undermined your confidence from the start. — he continued. Ryn .

Margarida snorted, her eyes full of impatience.

"You guys are stupid. Frederica wasn't useful to me just like that," said Margarida.

I turned my head to her immediately, narrowing my eyes.

— …What are you hiding, Margarida? — I asked her.

Silence fell heavily. The room seemed frozen, as if everyone was waiting for her answer.

Margarida took a deep breath, as if she were tired of our naivety.

"Do you really think a guild receptionist's only job is to assess status, skills, and distribute rewards?" Margarida said , her tone thick with contempt.

"An adventurer's guild receptionist goes far beyond that," Margarida continued .

We all sat in silence, waiting. Then she dropped the bombshell.

"There are seven human kingdoms. And in all of them, without exception, there is a guild receptionist," said Margarida.

Ayano frowned.

—What if a kingdom doesn't have one? — he asked. Ayano .

Margarida smiled bitterly and gave a bombshell revelation.

"In that case, they ask another kingdom to send the receptionist to get pregnant and deliver the baby to them," replied Margarida.

A heavy silence fell over the room. My stomach lurched. Ryn lowered her head, Kalea widened her eyes, Yukiko clapped a hand over her mouth. Even Ayano , who rarely let her emotions show, looked shaken.

"You understand, don't you?" Margarida continued in a cold voice.

—It's cruel. But that's how it works. Guild receptionists are endless sources of information.—

— What do you mean? — I asked, even though I was already dreading the answer.

—Because they're all born with the same ability. Total Assessment. — explained Margarida.

"This ability allows you to see absolutely everything in a person's life. From strengths and weaknesses to memories, choices, and secrets," Margarida continued, explaining.

My body shuddered.

— In the case of heroes… — I muttered.

— Yes. — Margarida confirmed seriously.

— In your case, they can see everything from the moment they arrive in this world, — replied Margarida.

I clenched my fists. My heart was beating fast.

— So tell me, Margarida… — I said through gritted teeth, staring at her.

"What information did Frederica help you with?" I asked her.

Margarida took a deep breath, as if weighing whether or not to speak. But in the end, she blurted it out coldly.

" Frederica helped me by organizing a mission far away for you and the heroes to do at the time," Margarida replied .

Yukiko , Ayano , and even I widened our eyes at that. That explained a lot.

—And that wasn't all, — said Margarida mercilessly.

" Frederica helped me with the information on which slave trader I should sell you to... and she was also the one who arranged my meeting with Oliver," Margarida continued .

I felt my face contort with rage. The blood boiled in my veins.

So it was she... she who threw me into that bastard's hands.

Margarida kept her tone cold, almost mocking:

"Guild receptionists are also beautiful, intelligent, and mischievous. They use their beauty to lure adventurers and make them accept difficult quests. But they never sleep with anyone; they only manipulate with charm," said Margarida.

I took a deep breath, fighting not to scream. If just a few minutes ago I'd still felt a tinge of pity for the cruelty Margarida had described about the receptionists' birth… now what I felt was pure hatred.

Frederica … you will pay.

I stared at Margarida, my voice coming out harsh:

"Is there any way to meet Frederica alone? In some establishment?" I asked Margarida.

Silence fell for a few seconds, as if everyone was waiting for an answer. My heart pounded. I didn't just want answers now… I wanted a chance for revenge.

Margarida stared at me for a few seconds, as if considering whether or not to open her mouth. In the end, she shrugged.

— Yes, there is. — replied Margarida.

I leaned forward, attentive.

— Where? — I asked.

" Frederica usually appears alone in a secret restaurant," Margarida replied , her voice calm but full of venom.

"It's hidden in the back of a tavern called The Golden Deer. To the public, it's just any tavern... but for those in the know, there's a side door that leads to a private room. That's where she goes when she wants to be away from the guild's eyes, " said Margarida.

My eyes narrowed.

— So she exposes herself… — I said.

My heart pounded. I could feel the hatred coursing through my veins like fire.

This is it. The opportunity I needed.

“Great,” I muttered with a grim smile.

—Then I already have my next destination. — I said.

The room fell silent. I knew everyone understood: this wasn't just a date. I wanted revenge.

The cold night wind blew through the narrow streets when I arrived in front of the Golden Deer tavern. To anyone else, it was just another forgotten spot in the commoners' area: creaking doors, a strong smell of beer, and men laughing loudly behind the windows.

But I knew it wasn't just that.

I passed through the main entrance, pretending to be just another weary traveler. The tables were crowded with drunks and low-level adventurers. The noise drowned out all thought.

I walked slowly up to the bar and ordered a pint of beer, just to keep up appearances. The barkeep looked me up and down but said nothing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I looked for the side door Margarida had mentioned. There it was, discreet, almost blended into the wall, lit only by a dim lamp.

I waited a few minutes, observing the movement. When most people were distracted by the music, I got up and walked to the door. I carefully turned the knob and entered.

The narrow corridor smelled of incense and expensive wine. My footsteps echoed softly until I reached a private room.

And there she was.

Frederica .

Sitting alone at the table, sipping a glass of wine with the calm of someone in control. But what caught the most attention wasn't the drink, but the way she was dressed.

She wore a long-sleeved white dress shirt with a turn-down collar, over which was a fitted black bodice, almost like a uniform. A black bow tie completed the formal look, along with a long skirt, tight to a point and then loose, typical of a guild attendant in fantasy stories. Her legs were covered in dark stockings that reached above her knees, and on her face, a pair of prescription glasses gave her the appearance of a meticulous , intelligent… and dangerous employee.

For a moment, the atmosphere felt more suffocating. It wasn't just a guildswoman sitting there, it was the same snake that had poisoned me with its lies.

She looked up from behind the lenses, and a thin smile played across her lips.

— Well, well… — Frederica said in a soft voice.

— I didn't think you'd have the courage to look for me, Araya . — he continued Frederica .

My entire body tensed. Every detail of her outfit, every calculated gesture, reminded me that Frederica wasn't just a receptionist. She was a chess player, and I stood before her now… ready to turn the board around.

She stirred the glass slowly, as if she had all the time in the world.

"So... the hero of the copy decided to visit me." Frederica 's voice carried venom, but was sweet enough to confuse a fool.

—Have you come to thank me for my old advice? — he asked. Frederica in an ironic tone.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

— Thank you? — I laughed ironically.

"Maybe I should thank you for selling me into slavery, for lying about my abilities, for helping Margarida betray me. Is that it, Frederica ?" I asked her sarcastically.

She leaned forward, her glasses reflecting the lamplight .

— You survived. — Frederica smiled almost proudly.

"Then it wasn't so bad. In fact, I'd say I gave you motivation. Without me, you'd still be chasing wild boars with those other useless people," he said . Frederica in an ironic way again.

My blood boiled.

"You play with lives like they're casino chips," I told her.

Frederica rested her chin on her hand and studied me as if I were just another adventurer in the guild's queue.

"That's what we receptionists are here for. We evaluate. We classify. We decide who gets promoted and who gets relegated. I just… pressed a few buttons in the right place," Frederica told me.

I took a step forward, my shadow cast against her desk.

"You underestimated me. You said my ability had limits. That I would lose control of my body after copying the fifth. But I discovered that was a lie," I told her with hatred on my face.

She raised her eyebrow.

—And yet you believed me. — Frederica laughed softly.

— Ah, Araya , you really were as naive as you seemed. — Frederica said while laughing.

I felt my stomach churn with anger, but I kept the smile on my lips.

"What do you get out of this, Frederica ? What's your game? Just manipulating adventurers for fun?" I asked her.

This time, her smile widened.

"My game? I am information, Araya . I am the web that connects all realms. When you breathe, I know. When you copy a skill, I feel it. When you bleed… I delight." Frederica answered me.

My eyes widened for a moment.

She knows more than she should.

“You speak as if you were an oracle,” I murmured.

Frederica leaned back in her chair, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Maybe I am. Or maybe you're just too late on the board," Frederica said.

I was silent for a few seconds. Anger throbbed inside me, but at the same time, a subtle fear gnawed at me. That woman wasn't just a receptionist. She was a threat with an angelic face and a venomous smile.

I took a deep breath, approaching the table, looking straight into her eyes.

—Maybe it's too late for me on the board, Frederica … but you forgot that I'm the only one who can turn the tables. — I told her.

I clenched my fists and leaned against the table, leaning over Frederica .

"Enough games. You said you're information, that you know everything. So tell me... what is the true role of receptionists? Why do they exist in every kingdom?" I asked her.

Behind her glasses, she arched an eyebrow, but didn't look away.

"You're playing with fire, Araya . Some truths aren't meant for heroes to discover," Frederica replied.

“I’ve seen too much to believe that,” I replied with a cold half-smile.

"You said that when I breathe, you know. When I copy, you feel. So tell me, are you the ones who control the realms behind the curtain?" I asked her with a smile on my face.

She swirled the glass in her hands, the red wine reflecting the lamplight . The silence was heavier than any answer.

“Every receptionist…” Frederica murmured, almost as if fighting her own tongue.

— …is born with the Total Appraisal ability. We can't turn it off, we can't hide it. We see everything. Status, abilities, fears, lies. Even secrets the bearer doesn't know. — he continued Frederica speaking.

A shiver ran down my spine.

"So all the kings, nobles, heroes… are in your hands?" I asked her.

Frederica looked up, a wry smile returning to her lips.

"Exactly. We're the foundation of everything. The adventurers' guild is just a front. We feed the kings information, we decide who prospers, who fails, who dies on the road," Frederica replied.

I bit my lip, feeling the anger rise.

"So you're spies. Seven kingdoms, seven receptionists, a network of eyes and ears," I told her.

— Seven? — Frederica laughed.

—Ah, Araya … there are twelve. You didn't really think there would be only seven, did you? — he said Frederica .

My heart raced.

"Twelve? But you said there are seven human kingdoms!" I told her.

Frederica drank the last sip of wine and slowly put the glass down.

—Seven human kingdoms… five hidden domains. Each receptionist belongs to a strategic point. Humans, beasts, elves … everyone has someone watching them. — Frederica told me

“So… even non-human races are under this net?” I asked in disbelief.

She smiled with an almost maternal air.

—That's why, no matter where you run, Araya … we already know. — he replied Frederica .

My stomach turned to ice. But I didn't back down.

— So tell me, Frederica . — I brought my face closer to hers, looking straight into her eyes.

"If you know everything… what secret did Albert try to hide until he died?" I asked.

For a moment, I saw her lips tremble. I saw her breath hitch. She was trapped.

“You really shouldn’t know that…” Frederica whispered finally.

I leaned against the counter of the table and repeated firmly:

— Frederica … about Albert and the old heroes. I want the truth. — I told her.

She looked away, her fingers gripping the chalice tightly.

—I… can't talk about it, — Frederica told me.

"What do you mean, you can't?" I retorted in my sharpest voice.

Frederica pressed her lips together, her expression rigid. But she didn't finish her sentence. I realized immediately that there was a line even she couldn't cross.

I sighed deeply and decided to change the mood. I raised my hand and called the waiter.

“Bring the best wine you have,” I asked, forcing a smile.

Frederica looked at me with an air of boredom.

— I've had too much to drink. — he said. Frederica refusing.

“Just this bottle,” I begged, feigning vulnerability.

— For me. — I continued feigning vulnerability.

She arched her eyebrow, thought for a moment, and accepted with a mocking smile.

—Okay. I'll taste my victory. — he said. Frederica in a mocking tone.

The waiter brought the bottle, and I poured her a glass myself. One sip. Then another. Her eyes sparkled behind her glasses, and she laughed softly.

—Really… this wine is very good. — he said Frederica .

I continued to fill her glass without her noticing. We chatted about trivialities, the guild's daily routine, the adventurer's routine… but I knew. With every word, every look, she tried to touch my heart. It was the Total Appraisal skill she was trying to use. I feigned calm and dodged her touches.

And I noticed something curious: whenever the subject strayed from King Albert and the ancient heroes, Frederica relaxed. Her body became less rigid, her eyes less sharp.

Eventually, the alcohol took effect. She rested her arms on the table, her head slowly falling back. Only a faint murmur escaped.

— Frederica …? — I called, almost in a whisper.

No response.

I smiled to myself and touched her shoulder. I activated my Skill Copy ability, stealing for a few minutes the power she kept as a top secret.

Total Assessment.

It was like opening a forbidden book. In that instant, I saw flashes of information about her—her status, her abilities, even the location of her home.

— I have no choice… — I muttered to myself.

I lifted her effortlessly. She was lighter than she looked. As I carried her through the streets, a thought consumed me.

This world is strange, but convenient. I never knew how to create drugs, I never understood anything about medicine. But with the Alchemy skill I stole before coming here, everything changed. I know the effects, I know how to mix them. Every glass I served was carefully crafted. Frederica doesn't suspect she's fallen into my trap.

I arrived at her house, discreetly took the keys from her skirt pocket, and opened the door. I locked it behind me, silently.

After a few minutes of searching, I found her room. I settled Frederica on the bed, fixed the glasses that had slipped off her face, and watched for a moment.

Now, Frederica … the tables have finally turned.